The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-03-04
THE COMMON SCHOOLS.
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT GRIMES FOR 1896.

erected, viz Madison, two Beaver, one
Centre, one; Conyngham, one; Green
wood, two; Hemlock, one Jackson, two;
Pine, two.
The sites are not all the most desirable,
but, perhaps, the best that could be found.
All the buildings are good, and are fur.
nished with the most improved patent
desks and seats. Many of the windows
have not been so arranged that the sash
can be easily raised or lowered. The win
dow sashes should be made to move up
and down on pulleys Few of the build
ings have sufficient blackboard surface.
This barrier to successful teaching should
be Immediately removed by the proper
authorities The board should be about
four feet in width reach within two feet
of the floor, extend all around the room,
and be slate or slated surface. Many of
the windows have no shades, consequently
the pupils suffer temporarily, and, perhaps,
permanently, from the direct rays Of the
sun shining upon their books and papers.
Roller curtains should be attached to the
windows, so that the light can enter the
room from the top, and not from the bot
tom, of the windows.
About four hundred trees were planted
last year in this county, in consequence of
the appointment of Arbor Day. Quite a
number of the schools had public exercises,
and were honored With the presence of
many of their patrons. But many of the
trees are unprotected. The ground should
| be fenced, or the trees boxed, so that they
be properly protected. The county insti'
tute was held at Bloomsbury during the
week commencing Monday, December 2S
The programme was one of the strongest
ever had in this county, however, in conse-
| quence of the change in the law, the atten-
| dance upon the part of the teachers was
not so good as the year previous, but the
interest manifested was never better. The
institute was also success financially.
The receipts this year were more than five
hundred dollars above those of my first in
/ stitute. Another evidence of marked i'm
provement is the fact that there is not now
a single district in which there is opposi-
ton to institutes. This salutary change of
public sentiment has, think, been largely
brought about by the numerous local in
stitutes which have been held in various
parts of the county. Great interest was
manifested in these meetings by the teach
ers, pupils ard citizens. Pine township
continued her monthly institutes during
the whole school term.
The school rooms should be white-wash.
ed every year, and the floor scrubbed as
often as the necessities in the case demand
This should be done, not only because il
will make the school room more attractive
but also on account of the health of the
pupils. In number Of districts, the teach
ers and pupils take part Of a school day
TO scrub the rooms. 1t may be better tc
do without school half day than weeks
without clean room but could the direct
ors not have it dune at a time whel i
would not interfere with the regular worl
OF the school?
Three years ago, the Fishing Creek boart
of directors passed resolution to furnish
two rooms each year with patent seats ant
desks until all were supplied. A littl'
more than year ago, that resolution wa
rescinded, and another passed, immediate
ly to supply all the rooms with new furni
ture. Some of the ether districts also sup
piled their rooms with patent seats ant
desks-the only kind with which school
buildings in this county now are furnished
Nearly all our houses are now well sup
piled with furniture.
1t would, think, be well for director
to permit primary teachers to close eacl
half days session at the expiration OF tw'
and one half hours, instead of three. Si
hours day is too long to keep in confine
ment primary pupils. If we would hav
strong, vigorous minds, we must hav
healthy and well developed physiques.
Since many of the school grounds ar
not in sward, the pupils necessarily carr
a great deal of mud into the school room
during stormy weather. The ground
should be fenced, put Into sward and eac
room furnished with sawdust to sprinkl
upon the floor before sweeping.
At my examinations, l have gwen con
siderable attention to the theory and prat
tice Of teaching. Few of the teachers wer
prepared for professional examination
when l entered upon my present work. !
series of questions on the subject wa
given at each examination: First, t
ascertain the qualifications Of those VIII
J had studied the subject; and, secondly, t
suggest topics which demanded the i'm
J mediate attention of those who had nc
: done 50. Notice was given that no cert
fcate wouldIbe issued to any one who di
not make as high percentage in the pre-
fessiunal subjects as was required in an
of the professionals. 1t has been m
unpleasant duty to reject quite numbe
of applicants, and, as might be expected
this has been the means of creating di
l satisfaction in some of the districts, but
l acted conscientiously in the matter.
have rigidly adhered to the plan adop
ed the first year, of keeping all the exam
nation papers on file at my office, so as
enable me at any time TO show applicant
| lnC IcSull VI lhCli WV 'f'
! vantage derived from this course has abul
dainty compensated me for the extra tim
> and labor required for doing so. Now a
of the teachers, except few to fill vacai
cies, have not only read, but studied, SON
works on teaching Much more attehtio
, is given to educational literature than ws
formerly done. Then, but few of Il
, teachers read educational papers nov
: nearly all OF them do so.
+ In my visitation of schools, / examir
the teachers programme, take the numb
, OF pupils in each study, and the names
, ali educational books and papers read
! the teachers.
s There were employed in all the publ
t schools of this county during the past yea
: two hundred and four teachers, OF who
. seven were educated at colleges, ninet
+ four n the State normal school, sixty.tW
y in academies or seminaries, fifteen in hig
i schools, twenty-five in common school
: and one in parochial school.
o 1t is to be regretted that so many OF Il
n | "a oil aatig6,